Steel shot is comprised of differently sized tiny shapes, usually a mixture of balls, pins, and rods. The pins are especially useful for polishing intricate shapes. If pins keep getting stuck in small holes in the work piece, a length of thread can be tied through the hole to prevent jamming.
The shot is available as either normal or stainless steel. Although normal steel is cheaper, it is false economy as it will rust very easily. Stainless steel shot can be left immersed in the water between uses, whereas normal steel must be thoroughly cleaned and dried each time. If stainless steel is removed from the water, it must also be rinsed and dried straight away.
The individual pieces of shot are tiny, and very easy to accidentally drop. If this does happen, then it is easiest tp ick them up again using a magnet. Ensure that the shot is throughly washed before being used again; even a single piece of stray grit can leave hard to remove scratches.
Before using the steel shot for the first time on a piece of work, run the polisher for a few hours with a piece of scrap metal. This will help to remove any burrs left on the steel rods and pins.
